Best Honey Nut Energy Bars Recipes

6 HOMEMADE GRANOLA ENERGY BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• To make each Homemade Granola Bar Recipe:
• Combine dates, honey, nut butter or nuts, and coconut oil in food processor or high-powered blender (such as Vitamix or Blendtec). If you want to blend the oats into a flour-type consistency, add to food processor. If you want hearty oats (like a granola bar), stir in oats when you add mix-ins.
• Pulse mixture until smooth.
• Place mixture into a bowl and stir in remaining mix-in ingredients.
• Press into a small pan or baking dish (I use a quarter baking sheet) and place into freezer to chill for 15 minutes to allow the bars to set up.
• Remove from freezer and cut into bars.
• Store in pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.

CRISPY HONEY NUT GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Spread the oats, walnuts and almonds onto the prepared baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 7 minutes. Add the coconut and toss well with a rubber spatula, then place back in the oven to cook for 4 to 5 minutes more. Keep an eye on it towards the end; you want the coconut to turn golden but not burn.
• In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Whisk and bring to a rapid boil, then turn off the heat and set aside.
• Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300°F. Combine the oat mixture, honey mixture, rice cereal, and dried fruit in a large bowl and toss well. (Reserve the aluminum foil.)
• Use the reserved foil to line a 9x13-inch baking dish, then spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Turn the granola bar mixture out into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly, patting down with a spatula. Be sure the heat is reduced to 300°F, then bake until lightly golden, 20 to 23 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely, 1 to 1½ hours. Use the foil overhang to transfer the bars to a cutting board, then use a large, sharp knife to cut into rectangles. Store the bars in a single layer in an airtight container, or wrap the bars individually in aluminum foil, for up to a week at room temperature.
• Note: You can swap in your favorite nuts and seeds as long as you keep the proportions of dry to wet ingredients the same. You can also toss in some dried fruit. On occasion, I'll sprinkle some chocolate chips over top for the kids (you can't mix them in or they'll melt).
• Note: Be sure your oven is fully preheated before toasting nuts; the initial blast of heat to preheat the oven can burn them.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The granola bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove them from the container and let them come to room temperature.

DATE-NUT HONEY BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk flour, oats and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Press onto bottom and 1/2 in. up sides of an ungreased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until edges begin to brown, 16-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For filling, in a large saucepan, combine honey, apple jelly and butter over medium heat; stir until jelly and butter are melted. Remove from heat; whisk in brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; whisk into honey mixture. Fold in walnuts and dates. Pour over crust; spread evenly. Bake until golden brown, 24-28 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.